Feeding mechanism



C. E. MCKINSEY FEEDING MECHANISM Nov. 8, 192 7. 1,648,493

Filed Oct 24. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1927.

c. E. McKlNsEY FEEDING MECHANISM I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct, 24, 1925 lfiUC/(tOp WWW M- WWW 1,648,493 c. E. M KiNSEY FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 24. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 imn 31927.

C. E. M KENEEIY FEEDING MECHANISM Filed 001 24, 1925 5 Sheets-$heet 5 Patented Nova 8, 392?.

area STATES PATENT orrlcs.

cnannncnn. McKnvsnY, on CLEVELAND/OHIO.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

Application filed October 24, 1925. Serial No. 64,586. i

This invention relates to an improved sheet feeding mechanism for use in connection with printing presses, folding machines and the like. i

The principal object of the invention is to provide a feeder of the pneumatic or suction type which automaticallyadapts itself to varying grades or thicknesses of? sheets to be fed.

of the invention to eliminate the necessity of adjusting the feed mcchanismfor each.

and every grade of paper stock, as is required at the present t1me, and to provide feeding mechanism which Wl-ll separate and feed relatively thick as well as thin paper stock without necessitating a change in the vacuum )1 of any adjustment whatsoever. A further object is to accomplish the above with mechanism which is simple inconstruction, and efficient and reliable in action.

The invention may be briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts, and details of construction whichwillbe described in the specification and set forth in theappended clain'is.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings 'wherein I have illustrated an embodiment which operates with high eificiency, Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion or a flat bed printing press equippedwith my invention, portion of thepress only being shown; Fig. 2 is a viewon a slightly larger scale,

looking at the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1, and shows the feeding end only; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing certain parts of the pileheight gauge; Fig 3 is a 'lOIlglttldlIlZll sectional view showing particularly the feeding mechanism: Fig. 4: is a top plan view of the feeding mechanism; Fig, 5 is a detail perspective view showing certain parts instrumental in the feed of the paper stock; Fig.

---' 6 a detail sectional view substantially along the irregular line- 66 of Fig. 4; and Fig.7 is a detail of a mechanically operated valve which automatically interrupts the suction at the feeding end during the return t stroke of the oscillating perforated feeder.

In this connection it is the aim' Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents the frame of the machine in connection with which the feeding mechanism is used, and which as here shown is a printing press. As the invention does not involve any details of the press, and, in fact, as it may be used advantageously with other types of machines, such as folding machines, itis unnecessary to describe the press itself.

The feeding mechanism is supported on a suitable frame 11, which may be attached to or form a part of the frame 10.

The paper stock is fed from a pile.12, in-

dicated in Fig. 3, and supported on an automat cally elevated platform 13, guided for vertical movement on rods 14 forming a part of the frame 11. The function of the mechan s'ni forming the principal part of the present invention is to elevate the top sheet from the pile 12 until it engages on the under side of aso-called separator plate 15 extending horizontally between the side members of the frame 11, and then to feed the sheet forwardly between take-off rolls 16 and traveling tapes 17 designed to carry the sheets one at a time into the press or other machine.

The take-oft rolls 16 are periodically moved up and down, being elevated to permit a sheet to be fed forwardly beneath them, and

being lowered into contact with the tapes 17 so as to be fed down into the press or other machine. The rolls 16 are carried by levers 18 pivoted between their ends on a stationary horizontal shaft, and the rear ends of the levers have rollers 20 adapted to engage'cams 21 on a power driven shaft 22.

The tapes 17 are driven bv a power driven shaft 20*, which itwill'be observed by refa stud supported by- As before stated, the paper stock is in the pile 12, supported.on the platform 13, which is elevated at intervals to maintain substantially a fixed or constant distance between the uppermost sheet of the pile and the horizontal separator plate 15. This platform issupported by sprocket chains 28 which pass over sprockets 29 30 extending between the side plates of the frame 11, forwardly and somewhat above the main. feed shaft 22. On this shaft is a ratchet 31 (see Fig. 2), held from reverse rotation by a holding pawl 32, and adapted to be given a step by step movement in a clockwise direction as viewed. in 2 so as to elevate the platform 13 by a pawl 33 -carried by an arm 34 mounted to swing freely on the shaft 30, and connected by a link 35 to a lever 36 mounted on the frame Hand in turn connected by a link 37 to a lever 38 pivoted at 39 on the frame 11 and at its upper end having a slot which-is engaged by'a crank pin 40 of a crank disk 41 mounted on the shaft 22 is rotated constantly, the lever 38, and eonsequently'the arm 34 arerocked back and forth at a uniform rate, causing the ratchet 31 to be stepped up and the elevator shaft 30 to be turned, providing pawl 33 is permitted to engage the teeth of ratchet 31..

justably ,drop down onto Normally the pawl 33 is out of engagement with the ratchet 31, and the engagement and disengagement is controlled by a pile-height gauge which includes a roller 42 which is adapted to engage the top sheet of the pile, as indicated in Fig. 3, this roller being supported on the forward end of a finger 43, adjustably secured in a block 44 which is adacross the forwardmost ends of the side plates of frame 11. The rock shaft 45 is provided at one end with a collar 46 (see Fig. 2), to'which is attached a rod 47 which engages under afinger 48 extending laterally from pawl 33.

It is not desirable that the roller 42 rest on during the forward strokes of the oscillating feeder, to be re ferred to presently, as it would cause too great a resistance to the feed 'of the sheets, and therefore it is preferable that the roller be lifted from the pile on and during the active strokes of the feeders and allowed to and to rest on the pile during the idle or return strokes of the feeders,

' and at such times perform its gauging funetion. To lift the rollerfrom the pile on each active stroke-of the feeders I pivotally connect to the upper end of the pitman 36 at the point 36 where the pitman is con nected to the link a hack and forth movement as the pitman is oscillated. The arm has a slot 36 through which the rod 47 passes, as illustrated in on the on a shaft 43 and. rod 47 are such the main feed shaft 22. As

fixedto a rock shaft 45 extending 35 an arm 36 which has Figs. 2 and 2?, the action being such that forward stroke of the feeders the arm 36 is moved rearwardly, .-aficlywhen the end of the slot reaches the ro dy4flg -tlie latter is swung upward just'eno'ugh to lift the roller 42 from the top .of the pile and' permit the.

topmost sheet to be fed therefrom without being restrained by the weight of the roller. When the pitman 36 swings forwardly-or in .the opposite direction,'as it does during the :thesl'ot return or idle stroke of the feeders, 36 permits the rod 47 to move downward until the roller again engages the top'of the pile. 1 V

' The action .of the pile-height gaugeis as follows: When the top of the pile is not less than a certain distance (in practice about one-eighth ofan inch) from the separator plate .15, the positions of t as to hold the paw 33 out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 31, in'which event the pitman 34'carryingrthe pawl makes idle strokes, but as the stock is fed from .the top ofthe pile, the roller 42 of course moves downward, and when the topsheet is a predetermined maximum distance from thefseparator plate, lowering of the roller 42 has become such as to permit the pawl '33 to operatively engage ratchet/31, inwhich event the sprockets 29 and shaft 30 are turned so as to elevate" the elevator 13 and pile 12 one step, whereupon the pawl 33 is again disengaged from the sheet of the pile 12 again reaches the maximum distance from the separator plate when the elevating operation is repeated.

Coming now more directly to the pneumatic feeding mechanism, the latter involves pneumatic means for separating the top sheet from the pile and for elevating it against the lower side of the separator plate 15 and pneumatic means for then feeding the sheet forwardly a distancesuflicient to cause it to be grasped between the takeoff rolls 16 and thetapes 17, therolls being frictionally driven by the tapes. vFor the purpose of separating the top sheet from the pile, a blast of air is directed against-the front edge of the top sheet, sufficient toelevate the sheet against the separator holding the top sheet thus elevated against the feeder proper, which it may be here statedis oscillated back and forth.

its force being plate,'b'ut suction is utilized in' the roller 42, finger the air which e evates the top sheet of the pile,

and for the purpose of creating the suction necessary infeeding the sheet, a rotary pump 49 is utilized (see Fig.1), the same being suitably "driven fromthe main power shaft 27 of the machine. This pump has an intake or suction pipe 51 and an outlet or delivery pipe 52, both connected to its casing. The

eliver'y pipe 52' extends laterally along the frame 10 and up along the frame 11, as indicated in Fig. 1', and upxalong the front of the pile 12, as best indicated in Fig. 6. Telescopieally engaging in the upper end of the pipe 52 directly in front of the pile 12 is a 'so-called blow pipe 53 with a delivery openchine; The blow pipe 53 is adjustable ver-- tically, having a .rack arm 54 attached to it and adapted to be engaged by an adjusting wheel 55 indicated in Fig. 6. When once the position of the separating jet is determined, the blow pipe need not be adjusted, as the proper height of the top of the pile is main tainedby the elevating mechanism already described.

For the purpose of feedin the sheets one at a time from the top of the pile as they are severally elevated in the manner ex plained below, I'employ .one or more oscillating feeders 56, which involve very important features of my invention. These feeders are segment shaped, and are mounted foroscillatory movement on the stationary shaft 19, previously referred to, and they are oscillated or rocked back and forth by a crank 57 connected to a pair of crank disks '58 on the main driving shaft 22 of the feeding mechanism (see particularly Fig. 4).

feeding tapes 17, these rolls being lowered by the act-ion of the cams 21 on the rollers 20 as the sheet is fed forwardly.

It will be'observed that the flange 57 is provided with a series of radially disposed openings 58 extending therethrough, which openings are of graduated or varying sizes,

the diameter of the openings gradually increasing from the forwardmost to the last or endmost.

Engaging the are shaped top surface of the flange 57 of each feeder is a stationary suction block 59, mounted in fixed position ,on the stationary shaft 19 (see particularly Figs. 5 and Each suction block 59 has an opening 60 extending up a suitable distance from its lower end and communicating with the upper endof the opening is a suction or vacuum tube 61, which as will be explained, is in communication with the pump 49. The

lower end of the opening 60 is successively placed'in communication with the openings 58 extending through-the flange of the oscillating feeder 56, so that the suction or partial vacuum created in tube 61 and opening 60 of the suction block will be exerted on the elevated topmost sheet of the pile through the openings 58, asthey successively pass beneath and in registration with the opening 60 of the stationary suction block.

vIt was previously stated that one or more oscillating suction feeders are employed.-

It will be understood, of course, that for each such oscillating feeder-there will be associated a stationary suction block in the relationship shown .in Fig. 5. In some instances a single oscillating feeder and stationary suction block may be emplo ed to feed the sheets fromthe pile 12, ut generally at least two such feeders and associated suction blocks will'be employed, and two are shown in the drawings, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. For exceptionally wide sheetsthere may be more than two feeders.

Considering now the mechanism by which a suction or vacuum effect is created in the openings of the suction blocks 59 and the tubes 61 connected thereto, reference Will first be had to Fig. 1. It will be observed that the suction or intake pipe 51 connected to the pump 49 is connected to a vacuum tank 62 in which a predetermined vacuum is maintained, the degree of vacuum depending generally. upon the speed of the pump 49. Extending from the vacuum tank 62 is a pipe 63 connected to a tube 64, and between the pipe and tube is any suitable vacuum reducing valve which can be adjusted so as to cause any desired degree of vacuum to be created in tube 64 less than that in vacuum tank; 62. As vacuum reducing valves are well-known, I have not deemed it essential to show the details of the valve. but in the present instance the reduction in degree of vacuum between that in tank 62 and that in tube 64 is controlled by a spring 65*, the tension of which can be adjusted by a nut '65 on the valve stem 65 extending up from the reducing valve 65.

4 The tube 64 extends up to a shut-off valve 66, to the casing or chamber of which are connected the tubes 61, which in the manner illustrated in Figs.4 and 5, are connected to the suction blocks 59 of the oscillating feeders. The function of this valve is to shut off or relieve the suction or vacuum in the tubes 61 and suction blocks 59 onthe back stroke of the oscillating feeders 56, so that when the feeders are swinging rearwardly they will have no effect on the elevated sheet at the-top of the pile, and to establish the suction or vacuum in tube 61 during the forward stroke of the iio Fig. 7 it includes an elongated casing 66 adapted to be traversed by a plunger 66, which is moved outwardly by a spring 66,

- shown in Fig. 7, or to the right as viewed in this figure,- communication is established between port 66 and the ports 66, causing the suction or vacuum to be created in the tubes 61, but when the plunger'is moved inward by the cam 67, port 66is closed by the plunger and the .end of the chamber or casing of'the valve is opened at 66*, placing the ports 66? in communication with the atmosphere and instantly relieving the vacuum or suction in tubes 61.

The action of the feeder is as follows: A pile of paper stock is placed on the platform and lined up in front in the proper position against a pair of guide rods 68, one ofwhich is shown in Fig. 3, and both being, indicated in Fig. 4E, theseguide rods engaging the front of the pile on opposite sides of the blow pipe 53. When the machine is in operation, the oscillating feeders 56 swing back and forth, thegraduated openings 58 of each being successively brought into registration 'with the opening 60 of the suction block 59, The jet of air being constantly directed by the blow pipe against the front edge of the top sheet elevates the latter as soon as a sheer is fed into the machine, and on each forward stroke of the feeders suction is exerted on the sheet through the openings 58, and when an opening 58 of proper size comes into registration with the opening 60 of the suctionblock to exert a sufficient suctional force on the sheet to overcome its inertia and frictional resistance to movement, the sheet will be moved forward, and 'on or about the end of the forward movement of the oscillating feeders the take-off rolls are lowered onto the sheet, causing it to be fed into the press or other machine. On the return stroke of the feeders no suction is exerted on the sheet since during this period the vacuum or suction tubes 61 are open to atmosphere at the valve 66.

The feeders swing back and forth at high speed, causing suction to be exerted on the sheet on each forward stroke and feeding one sheet at each forward stroke, but swinging freely without suction on the return stroke.

By reason of the fact that the feeders have a series of graduated openings, stock of varying thickness andweight can be fed without making any adjustment in the feeding mechanism, for the feeder will move' forwardly until an opening of sufficient size'is move it forwardly. Any slight irregularity in the feed of the sheets, due to the fact that in feeding successive sheets different openings of the feeder may become effective to feed them, if the sheets are of varying thickness and weight, is absolutely of no consequence for the reason that the sheets are stopped or held momentarily at the lower ends of the tapes before being fed into the machine. The'fea'ture of having the graduated openings in the oscillating feeders is of importance when the sheets in the pile by accident or otherwise are not of uniform thickness, but its chief importance lies in the fact that the feeder can be utilized for .feedi'ng piles ofthin sheets andthick sheets, and, in fact, sheets of any thickness and' size- (within limits) without requiring any change or adjustment of the feeding. mecha nism, whereas heretofore it has been necessary to have in stock a series of nozzles which had to-be changed as the size of the stock varied, and often requiring-the exercise of considerable skill on the part of the operator in changing over the machine by the selection of the proper nozzle or otherwise, as by adjusting vacuum valves and the like, all of which are avoided by my improvements Having described my invention, I claim: 1. A feeding mechanism comprising a movable feeder member movable over the sheet to be fed, and means for creating a suction through the feeder member onto the sheet, said feeder havingmeans whereby the suctional force exerted on the sheet'is varied during substantially the entire feeding movement of the feeder member.

2. A feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from a' pile comprising a. movable feeder adapted to beengaged by the topmost sheet of the pile to cause a suctional force to be exerted on the sheet, and suction means connected to the feeder, said feeder having means whereby the forces):- erted on the sheet is gradually increased as the feeder moves'over the sheet during substantially the entire feeding movement.

3. A feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pile comprising a sheet elevating means and a movable feeder whlch during substantially the entire feedmg movement exerts a'gradually increasing masses suctional force on the topmost sheet, and suction means connected to the feeder.

4. A feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pile comprising a pneumatic sheet elevator and a movable pneumatic sheet feeder which exerts a gradually increasing suctional force on tlieitopmember movable back and forth and having a series of openings through which a suctional force is adapted to be exerted, a stationary member having anopening with which said first-namedopenings are adapted to register successively and means for moving said member forwardly to feed a sheet and then back through the same path.

' 7. A feeding mechanism forfeeding sheets from a pile comprising a movable feeder member having openings of varying sizes through which a suctional force is adapted to be exerted on a sheet.

8. it. feeding mechanism comprising a movable feeder member, means for moving it back and forth, the return movement being through the same path as the forward movement, said feeder member having spaced openings through which a suctional forceis adapted to be exerted on a sheet, and suction means including a part having an opening adapted to register successively with the dif ferent openings of the feeder member.

9. A feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the t of a pile comprising a movable feeder member, means formoving it back and forth, said member having a plurality of openings of varying sizes, and suction means including a part engaging said feeder member so that suction is exerted successively through the different openings.

10. Av feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pile comprising a pivoted feeder member, means for swinging it back and forth, said member having a plurality of openings of gradually varying sizes, and a suction block engaging the feeder member and having an opening which registers successively with the different openings of the feeder member.

11. A feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pile conorising movable feeder member, pneum... c means for elevating the topmost sheet of the pile into engagement therewith, said feeder menr her having a series of openings of graduated sizes and a suction block-engagin .said

feeder member and having an opening which successively registers with the different openings of the feeder member, and means for moving said feedcrrmember back and forth. 1 I

12. A feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from the top of a pile comprising a movable feeder member, pneumatic means for elevating the topmost sheet of the'pile into engagement therewith, said feeder member having a series of openings ofgraduated sizes and a suction block engaging said feeder member and having an opening which successively registers with the difle'rent openings of the feeder'member, and means for oscillating the feeder. member.

18. In a feeding mechanism for feeding sheets from'the top of a pile, a. feeder member movable back and forth, the return movement bein throu h the same ath as the forward movement, and having a plu rality of openings through which a suctional force is adapted to be exerted on the topmost sheet, suction means operatively connected to the feeder member, means for alternately moving said feeder member forwardly and rearwardly, and means for can mg the suction means to be rendered lneffective during the rearward movements. of the feeder member.

14.. In a sheet feeding mechanism, a feeder member movable back and forth, and having a plurality of openings of graduated sizes through which a suctional force is adapted to be exerted on a sheet, suction means in cluding a part engaging the feeder member and'adapted to cause the suction to be exerted successively through the different openings, and means for causing the suction means to be. rendered ineffective when the feeder member is moving. in one direction and effective when itis moving in the opposite direction.

I .15. In a sheet feeding mechanism, an oscillatory feeder member. means for actuating the same so as to give it alternately a forward feeding movement and areturn movement, suction means operatively connected with the feeder member about a stationary axis, and means for rendering the suction means ineffective during the return stroke of the feeder member.

16. A sheet feeding mechanism comprisingan oscillatory feeder member having a plurality of openings through which a suctional force is adapted to be exerted on the sheet to be moved. means for actuating said feeder'member so as to give it alternate feeding and return strokes about a fixed axis, means including a part operatively connected to the feeder so that suctional force is successively exerted on the sheet through the differentopenings, and means for re??- dering the suction means ine fective during each return stroke of the feeder member;

17. A feedin mechanism comprising an tion means connected with said Qolock and oscillatory fee er member ha-vmg an are means for rendering said suction means 1nshaped portion provided with spaced openefiective during each return stroke of the 10 ings of different sizes, a suction block engagfeeder member.

6 ing said portion and having an opening In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my adapted to register successively with the signature. different openings of the feeder member, suc- CLARENCE E. MOKINSEY. 

